LSU Prepares Students for International Research

LSU Office of Research Engagement Director Randy Duran organized meetings for 10 students
in Washington, D.C. to help prepare them for upcoming international research trips
to France.Photo Credit: LSU

BATON ROUGE – LSU organized a two-day workshop in Washington, D.C. to help 10 undergraduate
students from eight U.S. universities prepare to embark on international research
trips. The students are part of the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation,
or LSAMP, program. Each of them will embark on a research travel experience to France,
where they will conduct research in world-class laboratories in Bordeaux, Grenoble
and Toulouse. Each student has also been paired with a faculty mentor at the host
institution.

LSU Office of Research Engagement Director Randy Duran and Assistant Director of Research
Engagement Douglas Villien Jr. organized meetings for the students at the National
Mall and the French Embassy with dignitaries from the U.S. Department of State, the
National Science Foundation, the American Association for the Advancement of Science,
Science Magazine and the Embassy of France.

“Connecting students with positive, life-expanding educational experiences such as
travelling abroad is one of the greatest things I get to do at LSU,” Duran said. “We
put together this program in Washington, D.C. to help prepare the LSAMP students and
ensure that their research abroad experience is one that will help advance their careers.”

On March 26-27, dignitaries including special guests from Bordeaux, France, who connected
via video conference, provided information to the students on best practices in international
research, personal security, cultural norms and other opportunities in Europe. The
students will embark on their research experiences beginning April 24. They will provide
weekly reports on their aspirations, laboratory trials and errors, lessons learned
and cultural experiences outside of the lab.

LSU has a video uplink studio with live broadcast capabilities. Contact us to set
up an interview.